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April 30, 2015

Wednesday and Thursday in Paris

We never made it over to the Eiffel Tower the other evening -- we had dinner with some friends in our group and went back to the hotel and crashed. On Wednesday we went as a group to the Picasso Museum which was really a lovely experience. Dee and Chuck then herded us all over the a favorite falafel place that they found on Rick Steves. it was completely packed and we all had a marvelous lunch. I had lamb and pita and a few undefined things in the sandwich that were delicious -- we decided it was eggplant. Then, a few of us headed over to the Jewish Museum that was in the same area -- Barb and I were going, and Chuck and Dee and a woman named Lee joined us. It was the story of the Jews in France, Jewish culture in general, and people who were notable over the years in this country as well as how the culture varied in customs from country to country. After grabbing some coffee in a local shop, we headed for home base. A few of us decided to try a local restaurant owned by a very young man, and we had a fantastic meal.

Today the rain fell -- first uncomfortable day in our whole trip. Both Barb and I bought new umbrellas since mine disintegrated in the wind and rain. We meandered over to the Eiffel Tower and bought a day's ride ticket on the Botobus which is a boat that you can jump on and off at different areas and ride all day if you wish. We got off and went to the Orangerie Museum which also has a collection of impressionists. It is small and known for its Monet water lillies which were underwhelming. Tomorrow we are going to Monet's garden which should be more interesting.

We then found a lunch place in the park and meandered up to the Louvre but didn't go inside. Later we went to the terrific Shakespeare and Company and wandered through their books, decided the lines were too long at Notre Dame, sat in a restaurant and had coffee and dessert before we jumped back on the boat and headed for home and hot showers to restore ourselves. We had an uncomfortable experience with a bicycle driver who quoted us fifteen Euros if he took us for a ride from the Eiffel Tower to our hotel, later told us he said fifty Euros, and had a tantrum when we refused to pay. But, we got through it, left him in a snit and headed back to our hotel. After our hot showers, we again went to the same restaurant we loved and joined some of our group for dinner. The young owner gave us all aperitifs for being such good customers. We love it so much, we might even go back tomorrow.

Our Lovely Little Hotel

Barb and the Eiffel Tower on a Very Rainy Day

Posted by Marilyn at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)

April 28, 2015

Ah Paris in the Spring!

We were concerned upon leaving England that the weather information said that Paris would be rainy. And, it was a bit the first day -- but somehow it has been pretty sunny since then. It seems like there are a variety of opinions online about Paris weather.

We arrived after a long day of train rides that were quite palatable since we sat in my breakfast room a few months ago and wisely chose the comfortable seats with free food service. Smart move on a day that was spent on the trains. The chunnel part of the Eurostar was only about 20 minutes so you would never know you were under water. We met Chuck and Dee and the rest of the group at 5:30 and walked to a wonderful meal in a local restaurant. The next day we went on a two hour walking tour around the area painted by the impressionists. The guide was knowledgeable and showed us many places were the painters lived and/or painted during their time in Paris. After lunch, Barbara and I strolled up Rue Cler -- a shopping area popular with people who live around our hotel in the 7th arrondissement. That night our group went over to Sainte Chappell for a wonderful Vivaldi concert. All in all, yesterday we rode about 12 different Metro lines so I have definitely seen the underside of Paris.

Today, we left after breakfast to go to the Musee D'Orsay where we could feast on all the Impressionist paintings and feast it was! I especially loved the Van Gogh's. It is fun to see the paintings you have studied in school in real life. It is a fantastic museum. Tonight, we are going to walk over to the Eiffel Tower which we can see from our hotel and then meander to dinner. The best food we have had so far was the first night -- so we're going to try that restaurant again. I must say that the England restaurants are way ahead on my score card.

Our room is small, but cozy and comfortable. I love that fact that it has a tall, floor to ceiling, window that actually opens on a little square facing other buildings with many staircases. The bath is large and we are on the 6th floor. The breakfast buffet at the hotel is adequate with lots of choices. Just not very exciting.

I guess this brings Paris up to date. Tomorrow we head for the Picasso Museum and Thursday we have a free day that we are still contemplating. There are many choices -- so many museums and cathedrals! Stay tuned!

Multiple stairways out of our hotel window

Barb in Parc Monceau before our tour

Our Fellow travelers listening to our tour guide

A Degas dancer in the Musee D'Orsay

Posted by Marilyn at 6:55 AM | Comments (0)

April 25, 2015

A Potpourri of Experiences

My writing can't keep up with the trip. We are busy day and night. Had a fascinating trip to see some family landmarks with my cousins during our time in Stratford on Avon. The most interesting part of the day was a trip to a pen museum. More on that later since it was pretty fascinating. Then, after dinner we had to pack to take the bus and train to Bath. That evening we went to dinner and took a bus ride around the city so Barb could get oriented. On Friday, we went to the Roman baths in the morning and my friend, Hope, came in the afternoon. We went to the newly refurbished Holburne Art Museum and then over to The Royal Crescent, 18th century circular apartments, to tour a restored unit -- these were the places wealthy people kept for their stays in Bath during the season. Following that we had dinner at the Jamie Oliver Italian Restaurant and walked back to our place to say goodbye to Hope. Today, we boarded the Mad Max tours and headed to Stonehenge, Avenbury (more stones), and the through a few quaint Costwald towns to meander. This evening we are once again getting ready to embark upon our next experience -- leaving tomorrow morning really early for Paris.

I have found the trip just a taste of the places we have stayed. It seems like we just get somewhere and it is time to leave. It is difficult to pick and choose what you wish to see when you know there is so much more. At least we'll have a full week in Paris, and I think that will be great.

I wanted to get caught up with the blog, but I'll have to augment these experiences when I have time -- especially the day with my cousins. Tomorrow i'll be traveling the entire day.

Barb and Hope Outside the Holburne Art Museum

Barbara and I Made Pen nibs at the Pen Museum

Posted by Marilyn at 1:25 PM | Comments (0)

April 21, 2015

No Time to Write

Such a busy trip -- there's no time to write. Yesterday, we arrived at our charming inn in Stratford-Upon-Avon after a very, very long day. We were greeted by the lovely proprietors who welcomed us and our guests, my second cousins with whom we spent the day. They then served all of us tea and cakes and gave us a rundown of the inn including a huge, old fashioned key which we can use on our room. This place has every single bell and whistle that anyone could ever want including hot water bottles, lots of books in the room, tea service, towel warmers, etc. etc. etc. There motto is to treat every person as if she/he were a private guest. And, you can choose breakfast from a huge list that includes just about everything you can think of like eggs of any kind, waffles, pancakes, salmon, etc. etc. You have to order it the night before and tell them about when you will be down to eat it. A small price to pay.

We arrived here about 10:00 in the morning after catching the fast train to Coventry from Euston Station. My cousins, Pat and husband Peter, picked us up and we headed straight for Wales. We didn't go too far into Wales, just to a village near Llangollen, where Pat's brother, Roy, met us. We lunched together and changed family tales before walking the towpath along the canal and over the viaduct chatting away, watching the boaters on the canal, and getting acquainted with each other and the beautiful valley stretching out in every direction. It just whet our appetite for Wales. We said goodbye to Roy who went to his home up north while Pat and Pete delivered us to our inn as mentioned above. Before they left, we went out to a delicious British dinner where Barbara had a meat pie and I had a wonderful, succulent duck.

Today, we have been sightseeing in Stratford where it is all about Shakespeare. We took the touring bus to Anne Hathaway's home and Mary Arden's farm. Then came back into town and had lunch at the Swan pub across from the theater, bought tickets for a play tonight, meandered through the Holy Trinity Church to Shakespeare's grave, and then to his daughter, Susanna Hall's home in town, and shared a cup of tea and coffee in the gardens. Now I'm sitting on my comfortable bed writing this -- although we will be leaving soon for the theater.

It is absolutely gorgeous here. We rode the double decker touring bus in the sunshine and had to take off our jackets. The daffodils and tulips are out and we couldn't ask for a better environment. Tomorrow we'll go to a few museums and Pat and Pete are going to take us to a few places where our family originated. Life is good.

The Canal and Pleasure Boats

My Cousins - Peter, me, Pat and her brother, Roy

Our Breakfast Room

Barbara in Front of Our Inn

Posted by Marilyn at 9:36 AM | Comments (0)

April 19, 2015

Three Days is Not Enough

This is our final day in London, and there is so much we didn't do or see. I guess that is always the way it is. We spent the whole morning going to a friend's church. Ana and Tod Gobbledale were two of Don's favorite people. Ana's parents belonged to our congregation after her father retired from the ministry. Ana and Tod were in Africa with their two children and would often visit our church when in the states. They have been pastors in London for five years at St. Andrews United Reform Church in Brockley. It took over a half hour by taxi and took us into some areas we would never usually visit which was fun. After the service we caught the bus back into the city and back to St. Paul's church.

Barb and I took Connie to the restaurant we visited on Saturday, and we had another delicious lunch after which we wandered over to the Globe Theater that was besieged by hundreds of Londoners who were able to get into the theater free because they were celebrating Shakespeare's birthday. Instead of standing in line for a couple of hours, we chose to walk over to the Museum of London which was a few blocks away. It was a small, charming natural history museum that pictured London over the years, the early natives, the conquerors, the growth of the city and the way the city developed.

We took the tube back to our hotel, got onto their computer to make reservations for tomorrow morning when we take the train from Euston Station to Coventry to meet my cousins. We were happy to have dinner in the hotel since we were tired from a long day. Now we're ready for bed.

Onward to the next adventure!

The Gobledale's Church

A Wonderful Rocket Salad on A Spanish Cheese

Barbara Wishes Shakespeare a Happy Birthday

Posted by Marilyn at 1:58 PM | Comments (0)

April 18, 2015

Back to England

How lovely to find myself back in my mother's birth place. It took me years and years to get here and now you can't keep me away. My friend Barb and I flew into London yesterday on British Air out of Canada. The Heathrow Express got us to Paddington Station and a taxi to our Bloomsbury Hotel. We are staying at the Grange White Hall just around the corner from the British Museum. We spent a few, sleepy, moments at the museum since we didn't want to go to bed early. After running into my niece, Connie, who's on vacation from the Peace Corp. We all came back to the hotel for dinner.

Today, we set out on a trek to buy Barbara a new suitcase since her's was damaged on the flight. Then we took the tube to St. Peter's to wander the grounds. We found an absolutely wonderful little tapas bar on the Thames for lunch and followed it by walking across the Millennium Bridge to the Tate Modern. At 4:30 we walked back across the bridge and went to a beautiful Evensong at the cathedral. Now we are back at the hotel after a pasta dinner at local Italian restaurant. Tomorrow we are going to St. Andrew's United Reformed Church in Brockley where the Gobledales are pastors. Ana and Tod have long ties with our Bellingham congregation since they were missionaries in Africa when their children were young.

One more day in London before we head for Stratford-Upon-Avon. Onward and upward!

It Was Windy on the Bridge

A Fantasic Restaurant

The Beautiful St Paul's Cathedral

Inside During Evensong

Posted by Marilyn at 3:32 PM | Comments (0)

April 11, 2015

Faith Journey - Music Is My Life #7

Music has given me some of the most inspirational moments of my life. It has always been a part of who I am. Through singing sacred literature, I have taken some of the greatest passages of the Bible into my soul. I'm sure I learned more texts from singing motets and requiems than I ever did in Sunday School.

I began playing the piano as a child. It was my idea, and no one ever had to ask me to practice. I continued until I was about 19 when I got more interested in choral music. I was blessed to study with two of the most talented choral conductors at the college level.

I loved choir in junior high but quit in high school because I couldn't abide the obnoxious music teacher. Instead I played the piano for a group called the "High five." When I got to Pasadena Junior College, Bob Peters, one of the group members who was on campus, came and found me. He literally dragged me into choir and wouldn't take no for an answer. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. The conductor, Dave Thorsen, was amazing. I changed my major to music.

I began singing in Dave's church choir on Sundays and got to know his wife, Katy. They took me along with them to San Diego in June. Dave was hired to do the finances for the summer program for music teachers. The lead faculty was an internationally famous choral conductor, Robert Shaw, and his entourage from New York. That was a lifetime experience. We sang several major works that summer with two choirs - a group of teachers during the day and a community choir that joined the teachers at night.

While in San Diego, I heard a boy ask Robert Shaw what college offered a good choral program. Shaw told him, "Definitely, Occidental College. Howard Swan is the best!" That was a no brainer for me. Oxy was about 5 miles from my home. Many of us went from singing with Dave straight to singing for Dr. Swan. And the next two years were magical as I honed my conducting skills and we continued to sing music that fed our spirits.

One exceptional concert stands out. We sang a two-choir Bach work for the national music teachers' organization. After our first two bars, the music just soared through the meeting hall turning it into a cathedral. People were mesmerized. It was an experience that stopped time. When the final chords began to subside, we all felt that we had experienced something mystical. The people in the audience sat stunned and in complete silent. For years after that experience, I would meet someone who was there. They still talked about that amazing time they were touched by God.

And, perhaps they were.

Posted by Marilyn at 10:01 AM | Comments (0)